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Tehuacana’s major
intersection
TE Photo, June 2003
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History
in a Pecan Shell
The town’s post office was called Tewockony Springs
in 1847 – named after springs that had been named after the local
Tawakoni Indians.
In 1852 the Tehuacana Academy opened, and the town became known as
Tehuacana Hills – being the highest point of elevation between
Dallas and Houston.
The post office continued operation under the name Tewockony Springs,
but it was renamed in 1869 after it reopened after a closing brought
upon by the Civil War.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church made Tehuacana the site of Trinity
University and it remained there until it moved to Waxahachie
in 1902.
The property was then sold to the Methodist Church, which opened Westminster
College.
Westminster College merged with Southwestern University in 1942 but
the school closed its doors in 1950. The school opened as Westminster
Junior College and Bible Institute in 1953.
The Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway came through in 1903 but was
discontinued in 1942 when WWII
created a need for the steel rails of short line and little-used
railroads.
The population has fluctuated between a high of over 600 in the 1920s
and a low of 265 in the early 1980s. |
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Westminster College
Athelic Team with school building in background.
Photo courtesy Louisiana State Archives, Dawson Corley Collection.
Special thanks to Bill Stafford, Research Library Supervisor |
The building
today without the tower.
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April, 2006 |
The remains of
the building's clock tower await restoration.
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April, 2006 |
Stained glass
from the top of a distant window is viewed from the clear bottom pane
of another.
(Westminster Building)
TE Photo, June 2003 |
A visit in June
of 2003 found the old University building undergoing a monumental
restoration.
The Tehuacana public school (c. 1923) was in charred ruins and looks
beyond any restoration attempts.
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Looking up at
the second floor of the former Tehuacana school – dated 1923.
TE photo, June 2003 |
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Tehuacana,
Texas Forum
Subject: Tehuacana,
TX Clock Tower
I see you have a picture of the clock tower for the Westminster College/Trinity
from 2008. My wife and I drove to Tehuacana to see the historic 1871
building on 3/31/21. Did not see the clock tower. Did a little research
back home and apparently the clock tower collapsed. The state of Texas
should be involved in the restoration of this historic beautiful building.
I am attaching a link that shows the collapsed clock tower. SAD!!!
https://images.app.goo.gl/JHrLQgztNS1eFRYP8
- David M. Sligh , April 2, 2021
Subject: Tehuacana Update
Thank you for your objective view of our lovely and beloved town,
Tehuacana. We are still hanging in with a current population of 286.
Our town still has a large population of teachers and college degrees,
partly because of the old college building. The elementary school
is currently owned by progressive thinkers who wish to reroof it and
turn it into a local art center. We are home to the classical ensemble,
the Ferris Quintet, and have an active art venue centering
around our coffee shop, Cup of Joe, open weekly from Tuesday through
Saturday. Please come visit and see old Texas still alive. - Linda
Ferris, May 17, 2017
Subject: Church in Tehuacana
The church listed as New Hope is not closed. It is alive and membership
is maintain and current services are being held as of today. Thanks.
- Former minister/ pastor of the church.... Tony Thibodeaux, Waco,
Texas, March 03, 2008
Subject: Westminster College photo
I ran across this photo in our collections the other day and found
your website. I believe it is the building you have on your website.
- Bill Stafford, Research Library Supervisor, Louisiana Secretary
of State, Archives Division, August 11, 2006 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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